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Weddings abroad

Imagine the scene: sun-drenched white sand, a backdrop of sparkling blue ocean lapping the shore, a sun-tanned bride and groom taking their vows under a flower-decked canopy with their closest family and friends by their side. Or how about an Italian lakeside, a French chateau or even a Las Vegas wedding chapel? If any of those fits your idea of a perfectly romantic wedding, you’ll be heading abroad as some 30,000 couples did last year. The easiest option is to consult a specialist travel company: different countries have different legal requirements and your travel company should be aware of the differences.
You will need to fulfil some residency qualification, usually between two and five days before the wedding – and you will probably also each need the following documentation:

Ten-year passport, Visa, Birth certificate, Your decree absolute if you are divorced, A former partner’s death certificate if you are widowed, A declaration, witnessed by a solicitor that you are free to marry, Parental consent if you are under 18 or under 21 in some countries

Where you do need documents, make sure you take the originals as copies are not usually acceptable unless they have been legally certified .

If you want to organise the whole event yourselves, rather than using a travel company, contact the British Embassy or Consulate in the country you are travelling to about the legal requirements for marrying in that country.

If you choose a travel agent’s wedding package, be aware that these are normally quite basic and often only include a simple ceremony, all the paperwork and legal fees. Flowers, cake, photographer and video may all be extras. If you want all the extras, choose a travel company which includes them.

Do remember that popular resorts often host several weddings every day, so if you’re looking for privacy, choose a quieter destination. Ideally you should book at least six months ahead of your trip, but the absolute minimum amount of time for all the necessary paperwork to be processed is three months. Couples who marry abroad often arrange an evening reception when they return to the UK for friends and family who couldn’t make the trip to the wedding

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Get several copies of your marriage certificate in case you lose the original – it can be extremely difficult to get copies later.

KUONI TRAVEL

Often costing a fraction of a UK wedding, a wedding abroad allows you to affirm your love for one another surrounded by family and friends in a breathtaking destination. With Kuoni’s expert weddings concierge team helping you every step of the way, creating your perfect wedding abroad has never been easier.
Looking for the perfect honeymoon? From intimate and romantic resorts to thrilling cities and adventure safaris, Kuoni has a honeymoon to suit you. Many of their hotels offer complimentary honeymoon offers, including room upgrades, candlelit dinners and spa treatments, and a personal travel expert can tailor-make your perfect honeymoon from scratch.